Disclaimer: Yu-Gi-Oh isn't mine. If it was, I'd be as rich as Seto Kaiba himself. (Well, probably not, but you get the idea…) And this fic is beta-read by Pamster. Thanks a lot to her for checking it and her advice.

Summary: Set faces execution, but help arrives from an unexpected source. The priest then escapes, but will Atemu let him go?

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Chapter 35: Fight And Flight

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Akunadin lowered his gaze so he could watch the lone figure seated solemnly on the bench. Set's hands were linked together on his lap, his head bowed. The headdress Set usually wore was placed between his feet. Akunadin could see it even without the Sennen Eye; Set really was feeling depressed.

You must be dying, stuck in here and unable to spread your wings, the old priest thought, his son still looking at the floor. You can so easily solve all this by killing Atemu, but you won't. If you were prepared to kill that girl Isis saw, then why not him?

At least now Set had been placed in a position where he would have to fight for his life or be killed. Atemu had put Set right where Akunadin wanted him. Now he could begin to make all his hard work bare fruit. He was so close to seeing his son wearing the double crown that he could taste it in the air.

Set did not raise his head, but Akunadin could hear the venom in his voice, all of it directed at Atemu's imprisonment.

"What do you want?" Set asked Akunadin, curtly.

"I am here to help you of course, Set. I cannot stand by and watch and let you be executed." Akunadin felt confident enough that they were alone; he had dismissed the guards who had accompanied him. "Don't worry. The Sennen Rod is safe in my hands, and I've informed Neith of what's happened."

"Thank you. How did she take it?" Set asked him.

Akunadin sighed heavily.

"As well as can be expected. I stayed with her until she fell asleep," the old priest replied.

Akunadin's eyes continued to linger on his son as he stared at the floor. Set looked so despondent, beaten into submission by the fate that awaited him. Or was that just for show? Doubtlessly, his son would be planning something right this moment. Never had Set been the kind of person to give up. But perhaps what Set needed was a little kick-start.

-o-

"Set! Come on, Set; wake up!"

Coming to with a yawn, Set blinked as his vision swam into focus. Neith was standing just outside the bars of his cell, her hands resting on her hips. Flickering torchlight outside in the corridor was the only source of illumination, and it gave his wife an ethereal appearance. It was strange, though. He would have expected her to sound concerned, but not angry.

Set glanced at Neith through the side of his eyes.

"What's this? I was expecting the grieving wife who's concerned for her husband, not the inquisitor," he moaned.

"Don't mess me about. Who's Kisara?" Neith asked, sounding stern.

"What?" Set choked when he heard Kisara's name. How did Neith know about her? "Kisara? I've heard of no Kisara."

Set stood up and walked across to Neith, one of his hands reaching for hers through the space between the bars. Neith immediately took a step backwards.

"Don't lie to me! I know all about her and the white dragon. You and your little fancy piece!" she barked.

Set slapped his forehead with his left hand, gritting his teeth.

"For crying out loud! She's not my fancy piece; she's just a girl I saved from getting stoned to death. There's no need for you to get all emotional." He then looked at Neith. "Speaking of which, who told you?"

"That's none of your concern," Neith replied, pouting jealously.

Set then found that he was fending off a hundred questions, all of them about Kisara. At least his wife was concerned enough about him to ask all these questions, even if Neith was dodging answering his own question about how she had found out about Kisara. It was as if she did not trust him. Furthermore, Neith was not revealing her source. But Set could hazard a good enough guess.

Akunadin. What is that old man up to? he wondered.

"There's only one thing about her that interests me, lotus. And that's her power. I've seen her Ka. There is tremendous power inside her, one that I think might rival god," Set responded, treading carefully.

Neith scoffed and Set smiled.

"It's true. I would offer to show you, but I'm otherwise engaged," he said.

Set then grasped Neith's hands through the bars, running his thumbs over her palms. At least she was safe. He had something to fight for, not just his honour and vengeance, but for the future: their future, and that of their son. Set suddenly gulped in as he felt Neith holding him close through the bars. One of her arms then wrapped around him as she cried.

"Oh, Set! I don't want you to die!"

Set raised one of Neith's hands and kissed it gently. His voice was low when he responded to her question.

"I have no intention of doing anything of the sort. Be patient, and try to have faith," Set smiled. "I will never leave you, my sweet lotus. We will raise our son, Sobek, together; I swear to you by the Netjer themselves. I love you with all of my heart. You have nothing to fear. You have earned my love and trust. Together we are going to get through this. I have a plan my love; wait for me to make my move and be ready."

Set's hands then let go of Neith's and rose to cup her cheeks. Neith sniffed, as he loved one wiped away her tears with his thumbs. Oh, he intended to escape all right. He would escape and carry out his justifiable cries for vengeance upon those who had wronged him; his slave and his whore, Atemu, Isis… Mahaa may be dead, but his influence was not forgotten. The list of wrongdoers seemed endless. Now his rivalry with his Per A'a was no longer something born out of the tiniest respect he had gained for the young man when he had summoned the great god Obelisk; it was destined.

And everyone knows destiny will not be denied or ignored, he thought.

-o-

Some time later, Set was seated on the prison bench, wiling away the hours, focusing his entire Ba upon his connection with the Sennen Rod. He knew that it would work; it had to work! If ever Set needed an act of almost divine intervention proving he had been right all along, it was now. He was still stunned Atemu had dared to sentence him to death, but what the Per A'a did not know was that Set had an extensive network of support.

Spies and soldiers; you name it and Set had it. If he were to die, he would only do so for a leader he felt could protect the country. But this weak simpleton of a ruler could only lead Kemet to chaos; he was certain of that. Power was nothing unless it was courageously displayed to deflect the blows of evil aimed at innocence, protected behind the raw energy that was true power.

Now all I have to do is get my lotus and get out of here, Set thought. He then looked up to his left, hearing a visitor arrive outside his cell.

Set smiled; it looked as if his plan had worked perfectly and he was on his way.

"Ku, ku, ku. Well done, Shadah. Now give the Sennen Rod to me," he ordered the bald priest, whose eyes were glazed over. "Hurry up and hand it over!"

Shadah offered Set the Sennen Rod, holding it though the gaps in the cell bars. He then unlocked the door upon Set's command, after which Set turned to face Shadah.

"Very good, my obedient little mind slave. Now hand me the Sennen Ankh."

Set took the Ankh he was offered, hanging it around his neck. All he had to do now was get his lotus and then Kisara. Set was not too sure Neith would be happy about the company, but she would have to get used to it. There was something different about Kisara; something that evoked memories of the past from when perhaps Set saw the world more like the way Atemu viewed it still. That everyone, royalty, commoners, soldiers, nobles, the craftsmen, everyone mattered and should be respected within the range of their social standing.

In time the truth will be seen. We all have our places and mine is no longer in your shadow, Atemu. This is far from over.

-o-

Meanwhile, Neith was asleep in her and Set's bedroom. If she were still awake, she would be wondering why Kisara had suddenly come into her and Set's life, and if it related at all to the changes she had seen in Set that scared her. Her husband had told her that the only reason he wanted Kisara was for the power she held, so why had he not taken it yet? This troubled Neith as she felt herself being gently shaken, a familiar voice whispering in her ear.

"Neith. Neith, wake up. Come on; it's urgent!" it called.

Neith moaned tiredly. Looking up to her left, her eyes widened when she saw Set looking down at her, imploring her to get out of bed.

Set then threw Neith' dress on top of her, firmly telling her to get dressed. What was he doing here? Had he escaped? Neith suddenly spied the Sennen Ankh that hung around her husband's neck and gasped. What was Set doing with it? Never mind; it would be better not to ask. If Set wanted her to know he would tell her.

"Set! What are you doing here? How did you get out?" she queried.

Set looked down at her, after which he glanced nervously at the door.

"I have to go away for a while; a long time, in fact, and I need you to come with me," he replied.

Set's hand pulled back the covers, causing Neith to shiver when the cool air hit her skin, and he then grabbed the dress and attempted to pull it on over her head. Neith struggled against it as Set tugged it down, amazed by his sudden urgency. But then, he had just broke out of prison and taken the Sennen Ankh.

"Is it something to do with Atemu? I've heard rumours that you've threatened him. Is it true?" Neith asked Set.

"No, it's not," the tall man replied, hurriedly tugging the dress down about her ankles. "But I want you by my side. Will you come with me?"

"In this state?" Neith paled, suddenly feeling sick.

Neith looked up at Set as he glanced at her swollen belly. She then felt him stroke her there gently and she grabbed his wrist with both her hands. Set shook himself free and slipped his arm beneath her back, after which Neith found herself being pulled up off the bed. Set held Neith close, resting her head in the crook of his shoulder.

How can I do anything in my state? Neith wondered, one of Set's hands cupping the back of her head.

"It's your duty as my wife to support me, Neith. I know what I'm doing, and I know that I have to protect you. But the only way I can do that is to take you with me now." Set stroked her hair again, a kiss placed gently on her forehead. "Please my love, it's not safe here; for you or the child."

Neith rested her hands on Set's shoulders and looked up at him. What her husband said was true; if Set left without her, she would be in trouble here. She was his wife and they would press her constantly about him. And if anything happened to the child, Set would not be around to protect her. She did not want to be alone, without Set; she wanted to protect her baby. Neith did not need to think upon it long, there was no way she could refuse him, nor did she want to. Her place was at his side and that was where she most wanted to be.

Set smiled as Neith nodded, helping her up from the bed.

"How are we ever going to get out of here without being seen?" Neith enquired.

"Just you leave that to me. I've got a few spells up my sleeve that will cover our tracks," Set replied, putting an arm around her, bringing her within the folds of his cape. "Now there's just one more person I need to get."

Set then guided Neith towards the door, her eyes narrowing. So, he was going to rescue that girl, was he? Well, she would have to let Kisara knew exactly where she stood in the scheme of things. Set belonged to her, and she would not hesitate to defend her territory if this waif so much as looked at her husband the wrong way.

-o-

A short while later, Neith could see nothing but darkness as Set lead her through the bowels of the palace. For some reason, Set had insisted that he blindfold her before they had descended into some underground chamber. Neith wondered why that was as he guided her carefully around a corner. Set was concerned about her seeing something, most probably. But she had no time to ask about this place.

"There you go. We're here now," Set told Neith, removing her blindfold. "There's just a small walk to go. And be nice to her; I can do without a woman's bickering."

Neith's cheeks puffed up as Set walked ahead of her, and she hurried to follow him down the torch lit corridor. As long as her husband was in it for the power she did not care. Set was not the sort of man to love multiple women. Still, they had come too far together for her to tolerate anyone threatening her family.

Set then brought them to a stop in front of a particular cell, and Neith walked up to him before turning her head to the side.

A scruffy-looking girl jumped up off her bench and stared at Neith, her blue eyes wide with fear. Neith coldly returned the girl's stare as Set withdrew a set of keys from within his robes and unlocked the door. What a pathetic little worm! Here she was, pampered and perfumed, wearing make-up and fine clothes, and here was this dirty little slave girl dressed in rags. How could Set even think of involving himself with this commoner? Kisara was so unworthy of someone of Set's stature, the complete opposite of the power Neith had seen the Gods of the Per A'a wield in battle.

"Lord Set! What are you doing here?" Kisara questioned, looking at her husband and then herself. "Is this Neith?" Kisara then smiled. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

Neith's lips pursed together tightly as Set went in to fetch Kisara.

"You're not that pretty to look at, I suppose," the jealous wife mumbled.

Neith's mouth then clamped shut as Set shot her a caustic glare. A fake smile appeared on her face, which quickly turned into a frown.

"Set, my dear, we really should be going," Neith announced, walking into the cell and taking Set's arm. "Come on, let's go."

Neith smirked at Kisara as she glanced from Set's side, rolling her eyes when she saw the girl's gaze lower sadly. Oh no, she would not let this one wreak her family or their future. Set would take Kisara's power and then be done with her. Neith allowed Set to walk her out of the cell, casting another withering look at Kisara.

"Hurry up! We can't wait all day!" Neith called, only to stumble as she was clipped hard around the head by Set.

"Neith, be nice!" her husband told her.

Nodding, Neith shot Kisara one last hate-filled stare and then clung to Set's arm as he lead her down the corridor. His hand tightly clasped her left shoulder, preventing her from turning around to face Kisara. The white-haired girl followed them, a hanger-on who Set found fascinating for some reason. She cursed Kisara many times as they arrived at the far wall that concealed a secret passage, but as soon as they got there they found they were not alone.

"Well, well, well," Akunadin muttered, stroking his beard. "Look at what we have here."

-o-

Later, after announcing his presence to his son, Akunadin was standing on the bank of the great river, watching Set as he prepared to leave. Akunadin found that he now had to stare up at his son, who had outgrown him now that he had come of age. Pride for his offspring filled his heart as he savoured these precious moments of victory that were leading Set ever closer to the throne.

Set was standing in front of a boat, which he himself had organised secretly with the presence of foresight. Akunadin had known that his son would escape so he had arranged all of this to aid Set. But then he had discovered that Set had not only brought his wife, whom he had expected, but also that white-haired girl that housed the white dragon. The torch Akunadin held flickered, illuminating the area in the dead of night.

"Why have you brought her with you? All she has to do is die so you can take her Ka, Set." Akunadin glanced sideways at the barge. "We could seal it now and let you inherit that power; you could be the next Per A'a." The torch then changed hands. "Besides, Neith doesn't seem to like her. She seems jealous."

"I said no and I mean no! I will not take her Ka if she shall die as a result. I'm grateful for all your support, Master, but that is how I feel and nothing you can say will change my mind."

Akunadin felt annoyed as he stepped forwards to embrace his son, his arms wrapping around Set. He did not want to see Set go, but he was starting to tire of his son's resistance to kill Atemu. And now Set was running away in the dead of night like some thief when he could be king, if only he would reach out and take it.

"I'll miss you, you know. How shall we keep in touch?" he asked Set, still holding his son close.

Set then pulled away, a warm smile on his face. Akunadin's good eye fell to the Sennen Ankh that hung around Set's neck before Set pulled himself up onto the barge, aided by two of his loyal militia that he had roped into manning the boat.

"I'm sure we'll find some way to keep in touch. Perhaps you can come and visit me when the baby's due. I wouldn't mind hosting you," Set answered, stepping back as the two soldiers untied the boat. "Until next time, do keep yourself safe. And thank you for all your help, Lord Akunadin."

The old priest crossed his arms as the boat began to drift away and sighed as he watched his son leave. His eyes closed, and Akunadin quelled the empty sadness he felt before turning to walk away. At least now a line had been drawn in the sand. Set saw Atemu as being weak minded, yet ignorant of the true consequences of his inaction, and now his son saw it as his duty to safeguard the country. Eventually, Set would come to accept that the only way to do that would be to remove Atemu from the throne before Kemet sank into ruin. It could not be more perfect. Now all he had to do was convince Set to kill the boy and take his place.

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